Dec '25 • New Divers
New to Commercial Diving? Read This First
New to Commercial Diving? Read This First
Starting your diving career? Here's what you need to know.
The Reality Check:
Year 1 income: £30-37K gross (NOT the £50K+ schools advertise)
Expect 4-8 months unemployed after qualifying
You'll need savings to survive between jobs
It's physically demanding and mentally challenging
You'll be away from home for weeks/months at a time
Still interested? Good. Here's the path:
STEP 1: Prerequisites
HSE medical (£160 + GP fees)
Basic recreational diving qualification
First aid + O2 administration
Build up to 20+ dives minimum
STEP 2: Training School
Budget £16-20K all-in (course, accommodation, living costs)
10 weeks for HSE Air Diver
Read reviews, visit schools, talk to graduates
CDT and PDA are the main UK schools
Use our Training Budget Calculator (Classroom tab)
STEP 3: Job Hunting
Start networking DURING training
Join LinkedIn, update daily
Contact dive companies directly
Expect 50+ applications for your first job
Be willing to relocate
STEP 4: First Job
Accept anything to get experience
Your first year is about learning, not earning
Keep your kit ready to deploy 24/7
Never turn down work in year 1
Common Questions - Answered:
Q: Which diving school should I choose? A: Search this community + read the Training &
Courses category
Q: How much will I earn? A: Use the Salary Calculator (Classroom tab) - real numbers, not
fantasy
Q: Can I do this part-time? A: No. It's rotational (28 days on / 28 days off) but you can't
choose when
Q: What if I'm 30+ / have a family / have a mortgage? A: Read the honest discussions in
Career Advice category first
Drop your questions below and the community will help
6
0 comments
New to Commercial Diving? Read This First
powered by
skool.com/beyond-the-surface-6846
Helping you break into diving, ROV and NDT careers. Real-world advice to build a strong, sustainable offshore career from someone who’s lived it.
Suggested communities
Powered by